Bengals vs. Bills: Cordy Glenn goes up against familiar foe and other matchups to watch

The folks that create the NFL preseason schedule knew what they were doing when deciding the most important preseason game for the Bengals and Bills. The fanbases watched the 2018 versions of their teams evolve with the help of each other, with a handful of transactions involving players and draft picks swapping clubs. All following the Bengals sending the Bills to their first playoff appearance since the turn of the century. It’s safe to say we’ve all had this Sunday circled on our calendars since the game was announced back in the spring.

For the coaches and some of the players, it’s just another exhibition they won’t fully play in. For most of each roster, it’s another chance they have to prove they belong on the team come September. And for a select few players, it’s an opportunity to even some past scores and prove their worth. Here are the matchups we are looking forward to watching the most:

WR A.J. Green vs. CB Tre’Davious White

The second-year cornerback White was neck and neck with Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore for Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, but he ran into a speed bump when he faced off against Green early last season in Week 5.

Green finished that game with seven receptions, 189 yards and score, with three receptions and 131 of those yards and the touchdown coming against White. It was Green’s third 100-yard game against Buffalo, but also a sure wake-up call for White, who no doubt has put in extra preparations for their rematch that will go down in the first half.

LT Cordy Glenn vs. RE Jerry Hughes

While Green torched White last year, Hughes had his way pressuring quarterback Andy Dalton off the right edge. Hughes has been the Bills best pass-rusher for some time now, but hasn’t eclipsed a six sack season since 2014. And he’ll have to go up against a much better adversary at left tackle than he did last year.

Hughes’ former teammate, Glenn has looked formidable thus far at left tackle, and most importantly, fully healthy. Spending five years as Hughes’ teammate in Buffalo, Glenn had plenty of practice reps against Hughes, and probably knows how to protect against him better than anyone. But Glenn isn’t the only one with a crucial assignment on the offensive line.

C Billy Price vs. NT Kyle Williams

The Bengals running game has severely lacked in the early parts of both exhibitions this month, and their first-round pick is one of the reasons why. Price hasn’t exactly been effective reach blocking against shaded nose tackles, and now goes up against the iron man at the position.

Williams has been the man in the middle of Buffalo’s defensive front since 2006, and still earns his pay by being a quality run defender, but didn’t have the most impressive of performances last year against Cincinnati. Regardless, Price is the underdog in this matchup, and needs to show a lot more than he has in getting movement at the point of attack, and sealing off backside defenders on zone runs.

DT Ryan Glasgow vs. RB Marcus Murphy

Much like Tra Carson has been the Bengals only effective running back thus far in the preseason, Murphy has been that for the Bills. He currently has 74 yards on 11 carries coming off the bench, with most of those yards coming after contact. The Bengals run defense has held up for the most part, but Murphy is someone they need to contain early in the play.

Whether some of Murphy’s best opportunities may be depended on how Glasgow handles blocks at the point of attack. The second-year defensive tackle has shown improvement as a pass-rusher the past two weeks, but his run defense hasn’t been up to par. With the release of Chris Baker, Glasgow could be in-line for more reps at 1-technique behind starter Andrew Billings if the team decides to let rookie DT Andrew Brown loose behind Geno Atkins at 3-technique.